Plural compartment dishwasher with unitary pump



Nov. 29, 1966 J. W. JACOBS 3,288,154

PLURAL COMPARTMENT DISHWASHER WITH UNITARY PUMP Filed Nov. 2, 1964 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. JAMES W JACOBS A TTOR'NE V Nov. 2.9, 1966 J. W. JACOBS PLURL COMPARTMENT DISHWASHER WITH UNITARY PUMP Filed Nov. 2, 1964 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. JAMES VV. JACOBS ATTORNEY Nov. 29, 1966 J. W. JACOBS 3,288,154

PLURAL COMPARTMENT DISHWASHER WITH UNITARY PUMP Filed Nov. 2, 1964 Y Sheets-Sheet 4 ffl 47 l/ 80 s l 33 E i 64k I 46 INVENTOR. JAA/IE5 W. JACOBS BY 4,5m

ATTORNEY Nov. 29', 1966 PLURAL COMPARTMENT DISHWASHER WITH UNITARY PUMP Filed Nov. 2, 1964 J. w. JACOBS 3,288,154

'7 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. JA MES n( JACOBS A TT'ORNEV J. w. JACOBS 3,288,154

PLURAL coMPAnTMENT nIsHwAsHER WITH UNITARY PUMP Nov. 29, 1966 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Nov. 2, 1964 JAMES W JACOBS TTORNE Y Nov. 29, 1966 J. w. JACOBS 3,288,154

PLURAL COMPARTMENT DISHWASHER WITH UNITARY PUMP Filed Nov. 2, 1964 '7 Sheets-Sheet 7 JA MES nn JA cose? A TTORNEY United States Patent C) 3,288,154 PLURAL CGMPARTMENT DISHWASHER WITH UNITARY PUMP lames W. Jacobs, Dayton, Ohio, assigner to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Filed Nov. 2, 1964, Ser. No. 408,232 Claims. (Cl. 134-58) This invention relates to dishwashing apparatus and more particularly to dishwashing apparatus having plural, separate washing compartments.

Recent developments in the home appliance field have been directed toward appliances characterized as freestanding unitary structures adapted to have a built-in appearance. For example, in domestic electric or gas range units, various embodiments have been developed characterized by a base supporting a built-in surface type unit at a convenient Work surface level and an oven unit supported above the surface unit to present a domestic appliance having a high, wide and shallow configuration giving a definite built-in appearance when the unit is in place in a kitchen arrangement of cabinets and countertops. Such units are adaptable for use in ordinary kitchen arrangements while being equally suited for use in modern kitchen layouts.

An object of the present invention is to utilize the characteristics of such a built-in appearing domestic appliance in a combination dishwashing apparatus suitable for cleaning ordinary dishes and pots and pans and for both preparing dishes for stacking in the unit and for disposing of waste material.

A further object of the present invention is to improve dishwashing apparatus by the provision of a plural washing compartment assembly including a common pumping system for circulating washing iluid selectively to either of the compartments and for draining fluid therefrom and timing means for providing a predetermined cleaning cycle in each of said compartments independently of one another or as a continuous sequential cycle of dishwashing and pots and pans washing.

A further object of the present invention is to improve dishwashing apparatus by the provision of a lower washing compartment and an upper washing compartment including an access opening closed by a lower door and an upper door and including means for movably positioning the doors in an open position wherein by pulling a handle on the lower door, the upper door is positioned up and out of the way of the access opening and the lower door is moved about a bottom hinge into a forward horizontal position where it serves as a work surface and waste disposal sink region with convenient access to the upper dishwashing compartment and a built-in garbage disposal unit and wherein the lower door is cleaned by the washing action in the upper washing compartment when in a closed position.

Yet another object of the present invention is to improve dishwashing apparatus by the provision of a washing compartment having a high, Wide and shallow conguration and an access opening with a coplanar area substantially equal to that bounded by the height and width of the washing compartment and an upper and a lower door assembly for closing the access opening with the upper door assembly including a sealing strip directed across the width of the access opening for sealing engagement with a surface on the lower door and with the doors being interconnected by a common linkage system including lost motion means for allowing a predetermined forward and downward movement of the lower door prior to movement of the upper door to prevent undesirable wear of the sealing strip during door opening movement and further means to render said lost motion means inoperative following further door opening movement and to cause the upper door to move up and `out of the way of the access opening and the lower door to move forwardly and downwardly into a horizontal plane to form a work surface with convenient access to the washing compartment.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein preferred embodiments of the present invention are clearly shown.

In the drawings:

FIGURE l is a view in front elevation of a dishwashing unit constructed in accordance with certain of the principles of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged view in vertical section taken substantially along the line 2-2 of FIGURE l;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged view in front elevation of the unit shown in FIGURE l with the doors thereof in an open position;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged view in vertical section taken along the line 4 4 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged view in vertical section like FIGURE 4 showing the doors in a substantially closed position;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged View in horizontal section taken along the line 6 6 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged fragmentary view in vertical section taken along the line 7-7 of FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 8 is a schematic representation of the fluid circulation system of the present invention; and

FIGURE 9 is a diagrammatic view of the electrical control circuit of the present invention.

Referring now to FIGURE l, a freestanding unitary dishwashing structure 10 is illustrated including a lower article cleaning unit 12 and an upper article cleaning unit 14 supported thereabove. Each of the units 12, 14 is enclosed by an outer supporting cabinet or shell including side walls 16, 18, a top 26 and a rear wall 22 as illustrated in FIGURE 2. The front of the cabinet includes a divider strip or instrument panel 24 having an upper surface 26 located forwardly of the front face of the upper unit 14 at a Work shelf level. An upper front panel 27 has an opening 23 therein for access into an interior en-closure 30 forming a washing compartment 32 in the upper unit 14 and in accordance with certain principles of the present invention, the access opening 28 is closed by an upper door member 33 and a lower door member 34.

The front of the unit also includes a lower front panel 36 having an opening 38 therein for access into an enclosure 39 forming a washing compartment 4t) in the lower unit 12 closed by a door 41.

As best illustrated in FIGURE 2, the upper washing unit 14 can be characterized as having a high, wide and shallow configuration with respect to the relatively square configuration of the lower washing unit 12. Accordingly, the general configuration of the complete washing apparatus can be characterized as having an outer shape similar to built-in units such as are typically found in modern-day kitchen arrangements wherein the upper part of the apparatus, represented by the upper washing unit 14, is located at a convenient height for the user of the apparatus.

One feature of the pre-sent invention is the manner in which the door members 33, 34 are supported with respect to the access opening 28 t-o the upper washing compartment 32 to produce a desired sealed enclosure when the doors are i-n -a closed position and a completely opened access when the 'doors are in their open posi- 3 tion. More particularly, with reference to FIGURES 4 and 5, the doors are mounted on improved linkage assemblies 42, 44 located respectively adjacent each side of the doors as seen in FIGURE 3. Each of the linkage assemblies 42, 44, moreover, are enclosed by the side walls of the outer shell and the side walls of the washing compartment forming enclosure 30 when the doors are closed and in part movable outwardly'thereof through openings 43 in either side of the top front panel 27 when the doors are opened.

Each of the linkage assemblies 42, 44, more specifically, includes a curved upper link member 46 having one end thereof pivotally connected at 47 to the side of the upper door member 33 and the opposite end thereof pivotally connected at 48 to a channel-shaped member 49 connected to 4the other cabinet shell inwardly thereof. The upper pivoted end of the link member 46 is connected t-o one end of a cord 50 that passes over a pulley 52 supported by member 49. From pulley 52 cord 50 passes in a rearward direction where it fastens about a pin 54 slida'bly received within slots 56 formed in the sides of membe-r 49. The pin 54 is biased rearwardly by a coil spring 58 to produce a `desired eounterbalancing action on the link 46 during opening and closing movements of the door 33.

Each of the link assemblies 42, 44 also includes an upper door actuator member 6) having one end thereof pivotally connected by a pin 62 to a depending portion 63 on one side of the channel-shaped member 49 and the opposite end thereof pivot-ally connected to the side of the upper door 33 adjacent the base thereof by a pin 64. The bottom of the lower door 34 is pivoted at 65 to the cabinet and a drive link 66 has one end connected to door 34 by a pin 68 and the opposite end thereof pivotally connected by a pin 70 to an elongated generally upwardly directed transfer link 72 that has the upper end thereof connected by a pin 74 that is received within a somewhat elongated lost motion opening 76 in the door actuator member 60. By virtue of this arrangement, when the lower door member 34 is opened by grasping a handle 78 thereon and moving the door forwardly land downwardly into a horizontal position, the transfer link 72 will -cause the member 60 to Inove outwardly and upwardly whereby the upper door 33 is moved up and out of the way of the access openings 28, as illustrated in FIGURE 4, during which time the spring 58 acts to counterbalance the weight of the upper door 33 against too rapid closure upon closing movement.

When the doors are in a closed position, an inwardly facing surface 80 on the upper door 33 sealingly engages a continuous sealing strip 82 of a suitable resilient material that is supported around the access opening by the tops and side walls of the enclosure 30. Likewise, a con-tinuous peripheral raised edge portion 84 on rthe lower door member 34 engages the side portions of the sealingly strip 82. In addition to the sealing afforded by the strip 82, intermedi-ate the doors 33, 34 across the width of the washing compartment 32, sealing is effected by means of a transverse, resilient sealing strip 86 supported by a Iresilient cross-piece 88 that depends from the bottom ofthe upper door 33 across the width thereof. The upper edge of the edge portion 84, when the door 34 is closed, will sealingly engage the strip 86 to prevent leakage from the compartment 32 at the split line between the door members 33, 34.

One aspect of the present invention is the manner in which the doors are initially opened and finally closed so as t-o prevent excessive wear of the sealing member 86. Thus, in the illustrated arrangement upon initial door opening movement, the pin 74 on the transfer link 72 moves upwardly in the lost motion opening 76 i-n the member 60 to allow the upper edge of the lower door 34 to clear the opening path defined by the sealingv strip 86 depending from the upper door member 33 before door member 33 starts to open. Following this initial seal clearance opening, the link 72 moves against actuator member 60 to swing it about pivot 62 and thus cause a depending arm 90 on a latching mechanism 92 carried on member 60 to move away from a stop 94. This causes a tension spring 96 in the mechanism 92 to bias a pivoted arm 98 thereof into a latched relationship with the pin 74 so as to lhold it against the upper end of the opening 76 in member 60 whereby upon further opening movement of lower door member 34 from the position illustrated in FIGURE 5, the upper door member 33 will be concurrently moved into an up and out-of-the-way position as door 34 is moved into a downward and outward horizontal position. When the door is closed, the door members 33, 34 will concurrently be moved into their closed position until the depending arm 90 engages the stop 94 to release the latch mechanism 92. At this time, the upper door 33 is positioned in a sealing relationship with the sealing member 82 and, hence, fully closed and the lower door member 34 is slightly outwardly opened. Once the latch mechanism 92 has been released, the transfer link 72 is free to move downwardly so Ias to allow for complete door closing movement of member 34 into a position where the surface 84 sealingly engages sealing strips 82 Kand 86.

Another aspect of the present invention is that the v peripheral edge portion 84 on the lower door lmember 34 forms a depression or sink region 100 having an inclined bottom surface 102 that is lowest adjacent 'the innermost part of the door when it is fully opened. The sink regi-on 100 is closed by the flange member 84 on the front, rear and sides thereof and opened at 104 at the rear thereof w-here itv corrununicates with an opening 106 formed in a waste disposal chute 108 located adjacent the bottom and to one side of the access opening 28. The chute 108 ben-ds downwardly and has an opened bottom end that is supportingly received by the bottom of the upper enclosure 30 where it communicates with an opening 110 to a garbage -disposal unit or comminutor 112 located in a compartment 114 formed by the side wall 16 of 4the outer shell, the front panel 36 and one of the sides of the bottom compartment-forming enclosure 40.

By virtue of this arrangement, when the door 34 is in its opened position, a Work surface of substantial dimension is effected for loading and unloading dishes from the washing compartment 32, and, moreover, a waste disposal region is present wherein the user of the device is able to scrape waste particles from the dishes and direct them conveniently into the garbage disposal unit 112. In FIG- URE 7 rinse means are shown associated with sink region 100 for flushing the surface 102 during the waste disposal operation. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the rinse is effected by a exible water supply tube 116 that is directed interiorly of the door member 34 through the formed peripheral flange 84 thereon so as to supply uid through a plurality of openings 118 in the inner surface of the iiange 84 adjacent the top of the door 34 for directing a spray pattern inwardly against the surface 102 adjacent the outermost region thereof, hence, to ow iiuid toward the opposite end thereof and into the opening 106 of the garbage chute 108. Excess rinse fluid from the sink region 100 also passes through screened weep openings 120 in the flange 84 at the bottom of door member 34 into the sump of washing compartment 32.

By virtue of the illustrated arrangement, a user can quickly clean dishes and load them into the upper washing compartment 32 and, moreover, when the door members 33, 34 are closed, the waste disposal sink region 100 is exposed to the washing action in the compartment 32 whereby it is clean following the washing operation so that the region can be used as an unloading platform for clean dishes from the washing compartment 32.

Referring now to FIGURE 8, the uid system for the combination units 12, 14 is schematically illustrated as including a fill line 122 directed to a branch line 124 having a solenoid operated ll valve 125 therein for controlling flow of iiuid interiorly of the washing compartment 32 in the top unit 14. Another branch line 126 has a valve 127 for directing rinse tluid to tube 116 in door 34. Likewise, the line 122 communicates with another branch line 128 having a solenoid actuated control valve 130 therein for controlling fluid ow interiorly of the washing compartment 40. Additionally, the system includes a drain and uid circulation pump unit 132 that has an inlet line 134 thereto selectively connected to a drain line 136 from the sump of the washing compartment 40 and a drain line 138 from the sump of the washing compartment 38 through a solenoid actuated control valve 140. An outlet 142 from the pump 132 is selectively communicated with a pair of uid circulation lines 144, 146 and -a drain pipe 148 Ithrough a solenoid actuated valve unit 150. In the illustrated arrangement, the disposer unit 112 has an outlet drain pipe 152 connected to drain pipe 148 and a drive shaft 154 operatively connected to a drive motor 156 that, in turn, is connected to the pump 132 through a drive shaft 158. In the illustrated arrangement the drive shaft 158 has a pulley 160 connected thereto for driving a belt 162 that passes over a driven pulley 164 operatively connected to a uid circulation impeller 166 located in the lower part of the lower washing compartment 40.

The impeller 166 serves to distribute the predetermined amount of fill fluid passed through the line 128 under the control of the valve 138 to produce a partial cleaning action against articles placed on a rack 167 within the compartment 40. A spray distributing head 168 located on the top of the lower washing unit receives fluid from the circulation line 144 and discharges it into the compartment 48 to augment the cleaning action of impeller 166.

In the upper washing unit 14 the washing action is obtained by fluid passing from line 146 into an elongated horizontal spray tube 170 that has openings 171 therein throughout the length thereof. The tube 170 is rotatably supported at each of its ends by bearing mounts 172 secured on the sides of the enclosure 3G. Pressurized fluid through the tube 170 causes rotation thereof whereby fluid passing outwardly thereof through openings 171 is directed against articles located above and below the tube 170 on racks 173, 174. An additional spray pattern within compartment 32 is afforded by fluid passing from a branch line 175 of line 146 into a rotary distributing head 176 depending from the top of the enclosure 30 within compartment 32.

Another feature of the present invention is an improved control system for individually operating each of the washing units 12, 14 or sequentially operating them through a dishwashing and then through a subsequent pots and pans cycle of operation. In FIGURE 9, a control circuit 177 for carrying out such an operation is illustrated connected across lines L1, L2 of a residential source of power. When articles have been loaded into the washing compartments and the doors closed, door switches 178, 179 in the circuit 177 are closed.

In order to initiate a dishwashing cycle of operation in the unit 14, a timer control knob 180 on the control panel 24 is pushed inwardly to thereby close switches 181, 182. A circuit is thereby completed from L1 through closed door switch 178, closed switch 181 a normally closed pair of contacts 184 and thence through the dishwasher timer motor 186 to line L2 and a parallel circuit is completed from L1 through switch 182 and a selector relay coil 188 to line L2. Energization of relay coil 188 opens a normally closed switch 190 in a power circuit for a pots and pans timer motor 192 that passes from line L1 through the closed door switch 179 and through a switch 194 that is opened and closed by movement of a pots and pans timer knob 196 on the control panel 24. Thus, if the knob 196 is pushed inwardly either inadvertently or intentially, the relay switch 190 will maintain the pots and pans timer motor 192 de-energized during the dishwashing cycle of operation.

On the rst impulse of the timer 186, a switch 198 is closed to complete a relay holding circuit from line L1 through a conductor 200, the relay coil 188 to line L2 to prevent accidental starting of the pots and pans washer if the dishwashing knob is pulled out during the dishwashing cycle of operation. The timer moto-r 186 then carries out a sequential dishwashing control cycle by selectively opening and closing cam operated switches in the following manner. Initially, a switch 202 is closed to complete a till valve circuit through a coil 204 of the solenoid operated lill valve 126. The ll period lasts for a predetermined period of time as determined by a pressure switch 206 in the sump of compartment 32 operative to open the iill valve circuit when a desired amount of water is in the sump of the upper washing unit 14.

Following the dishwashing ll cycle a cam operated timer switch 208 is closed to complete a motor energization circuit across lines L1, L2 to energize mot-or 156 to drive the -pump 132, disposer unit 112 and impeller 166. Concurrently, a switch 210 is closed to com-plete a valve actuating circuit across lines L1, L2 :through a coil 212 of the solenoid actuated selector valve whereby it is conditioned to cause uid drawn fnom the sump of conip-artment 32 to be discharged from the pump 132 through the circulation system lines 146, 175 into the horizontal spray tube 170 and `rotary top spray head 176 to perform a washing action on the articles on racks 173, 174 within the compartment 32. Following la predetermined washing cycle of operation, the switch 210 opens and a switch 214 closes to complete a drain valve energization circuit through a coil 216 of the selector valve thereby -to condition valve 150 to cause fluid drawn from the sump yof compartment 32 to be discharged from the pump 132 into the drain pipe 148.

Following the drain cyclea cam actuated timer switch 217 is clo-sed to complete an energization circuit across L1, L2 through an electrical resistance heater 218 in the bottom of compartment 32. This initiates a drying cycle which is terminated following a predetermined period of time. The dishwashing cycle is then terminated by the timer switches 181, 182, 198 being operated by timer motor driven cams into opened positions.

1f a sequential dishwashing and pots and pans operation is desired, the pots fand pans timer knob 196 may be pushed in initially. The -pots and pans washing cycle will not start until the dishwasher timer 186 opens contacts 181, 182 and 198 to thereby de-energize the dishwashing control circuit. This de-energizes relay 188 to close switch 190 to thereby complete the pots and pans timer motor circuit. Upon energization of the timer motor circuit for the pots and pans cycle of operation, `a cam operated timer switch 219 is closed -to complete a relay circuit through a coil 221 ybetween lines L1 and L2 causing the normally closed contact 184 to open to assure continued de-energization of the dishwasher timer motor circuit to thereby prevent inadvertent dishwashing operation during the pots and pans cycle of operation. The sequence into the pots and pans cycle following closing of switch 219 includes the timer motor 192 positioning cams to first close a cam `operated switch 220` to complete -a pots and pans ll valve energization circuit between L1 and L2 through a coil 222 of the fill valve 130 whereby a predetermined amount of fluid is passed into the sump of the washing compartment 40 with the ll being terminated with the opening of a switch 224 in its sump once enough water has been directed into the enclosure. Following the Iill cycle, a switch 225 is closed to energize a coil 226 of the valve 140 to condition it to supply fluid from the sump of compartment 40 to pump 132 for discharge therefrom during which time a switch 227 is also closed to energize the motor 156 to drive impeller 166 and a switch 228 is closed to energize a coil 229 to condition valve 150 to direct fluid through line 144 to the distributing head 168. Following the warshing cycleof operation, a switch 230 is closed to energize 7 coil 231 to condition the valve 150 to direct fluid from pump 132 thr-ough the drain pipe 148. Following the drain cycle, a switch 232 is closed to energize a heater circuit between L1 and L2 for energizing a heater 234 in the base of the compartment 40 for effecting a desired drying operation.

By virtue of the above-described arrangement, therefore, a user can either individually operate the washing units or .operate them through a continuous sequence including first a dishwa'shing operation and subsequently a pots and pans washing operation.

While the embodiments of the present invention as herein disclosed constitute preferred forms, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. A dishwashing apparatus comprising, :a first washing compartment and a second washing compartment each having sump regions, a unitary pump for draining fluid from and supplying fluid to said rst and second washing compartments, said pump fhaving an inlet and an outlet, a sump region in each of said washing compartments for draining Washing fluid therefrom, fluid distributing means in each of said washing compartments, first fluid directing means for connecting each of said sump regions to the inlet of said unitary pump, second iiuid directing means for directing fluid from said pump `outlet to said fluid distributing meansI during a washing cycle of opera-tion, motor means for driving said pum-p, and control means for conditioning said motor means and said first and seco-nd fluid directing means to effect predetermined cycles of operation in said compartments including either individual cleaning cycles in one or the other of the compartments or a sequence of cleaning cycles in said compartments.

2. In the dishwashing apparatus combination of claim 1, said control means including first and second timing means for conditioning said fluid directing means to produce a predetermined cleaning cycle in each of said compartments, said control means including means for operating each of said first and second timing means independently to carry out separate cleaning 4actions in said washing compartments and further including interlocking means to operate said rst and second timer means sequentially to carry out a continuous sequence of operation by conditioning said fluid directing means first for uid flow through said first washing compartment and subsequently for uid flow through said second washing compartment.

3. In the combination lof claim 2, said control means including means for preventing operation of one of said timing means for controlling washing in one compartment during operation of the timing means controlling washing in the other of the compartments.

4. In a dishwashing apparatus, the combination of a first washing compartment having a sump, a second washing compa-rtment having a sump, first fiuid distributing means in said first washing compartment, second fiuid distributing means in said second washing compartment, a pump having an inlet and an outlet, first uid directing means including first plural position valve means for connecting said inlet of said pump to each of said first and second washing compartment pumps, second fluid directing means including second plural position valve means for connecting said outlet of said pump Ito each of said first and second fiuid distributing means, means including said second plural position valve means for connecting `said outlet of said pump to drain, means for operating said pump and first and second plural position valve means to produce first predetermined washing and draining cycles of operation in said first washing compartment wherein said pump sequentially circulates fluid from the sump of said first washing compartment to `said first fluid distributing means and then from the same pump to drain, said means for operating said pump and plural lposition valve .means further including means to produce `a separate and distinct washing and draining cycle in said second washing compartment wherein said pump circulates fiuid from the sump of said second washing cornpartment back to said second fluid distributing means and then from the same 'sump to drain.

5. In the combination of claim 4, said operating means including first and second timing means and means for interlocking said first and second timing means to prevent concurrent operation thereof.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,162,966 12/1915 Zaninovich 134-88 X 1,617,021 2/1927 Mitchell 134-89 X 2,045,890 6/1936 Uh'alt et al. 134-115 X 2,729,219 l/1956 Smith 134-58 X 2,795,330 6/1957 Sawyer 134-104 X 2,844,432 7/1958 Freer 312-228 2,960,375 11/1960 Heerlein et al 312-228 3,059,653 10/1962 lngolia 134-115 X 3,099,585 7/1963 Kahn 134-104 X 3,125,105 3/1964 Geiger 134-58 3,179,481 4/1965 Jenkins 134-115 X 3,217,721 11/1965 Hertel 134-58 CHARLES A. w1LLMUTH,Primm-y Examiner.

R. L. BLEUTGE, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A DISHWASHING APPARATUS COMPRISING, A FIRST WASHIN COMPARTMENT AND A SECOND WASHING COMPARTMENT EACH HAVING SUMP REGIONS, A UNITARY PUMP FOR DRAINING FLUID FROM AND SUPPLYING FLUID TO SAID FIRST AND SECOND WASHING COMPARTMENTS, SAID PUMP HAVING AN INLET AND AN OUTLET, A SUMP REGION IN EACH OF SAID WASHING COMPARTMENTS FOR DRAINING WASHING FLUID THEREFROM, FLUID DISTRIBUTING MEANS IN EACH OF SAID WASHING COMPARTMENTS, FIRST FLUID DIRECTING MEANS FOR CONNECTING EACH OF SAID SUMP REGIONS TO THE INLET OF SAID UNITARY PUMP, SECOND FLUID DIRECTING MEANS FOR DIRECTING FLUID FROM SAID PUMP OUTLET TO SAID FLUID DISTRIBUTING MEANS DURING A WASHING CYCLE OF OPERATION, MOTOR MEANS FOR DRIVING SAID PUMP, AND CONTROL MEANS FOR CONDITIONING SAID MOTOR MEANS AND SAID FIRST AND SECOND FLUID DIRECTING MEANS TO EFFECT PREDETERMINED CYCLES OF OPERATION IN SAID COMPARTMENTS INCLUDING EITHER INDIVIVUAL CLEANING CYCLES IN ONE OR THE OTHER OF THE COMPARTMENTS OR A SEQUENCE OF CLEANING CYCLES IN SAID COMPARTMENTS. 